Cooling and noise-reduction apparatus

Abstract

A cooling and noise-reduction apparatus for a computing device disposable within a structure having a central air conditioning system is provided. The computing device includes a heat generating component, an enclosure having first and second inlets, a fan configured to drive coolant from the first inlet to the heat generating component, a vent operably interposed between the second inlet and the heat generating component and a controller coupled to the fan and the vent to respectively control operations thereof. The cooling and noise-reduction apparatus includes a ducting element configured to flexibly and fluidly couple the second inlet with the central air conditioning system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooling and noise-reduction apparatus for a computing device disposable within a structure having a central air conditioning system, the computing device comprising:
 a heat generating component;   an enclosure having first and second inlets;   a fan configured to drive coolant from the first inlet to the heat generating component;   a vent operably interposed between the second inlet and the heat generating component; and   a controller coupled to the fan and the vent to respectively control operations thereof, wherein:   the cooling and noise-reduction apparatus comprises a ducting element configured to flexibly and fluidly couple the second inlet with the central air conditioning system.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling and noise-reduction apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises at least one of a server, a desktop computing device and a portable computing device. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling and noise-reduction apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising a docking station for the portable computing device. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling and noise-reduction apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat generating component comprises at least one of a mother board and a central processing unit. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling and noise-reduction apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises:
 a fan control unit operably coupled to the fan to control an on/off state and a rotational speed of the fan; and   a vent control logic unit operably coupled to the vent to control an opening, a closing and a vent angle of the vent.   
     
     
         6 . The cooling and noise-reduction apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 maintain the fan and the vent in on and open conditions, respectively, during a startup state,   maintain the fan and the vent in off and open conditions, respectively, during an active condition, and   maintain the fan in the on condition during a vent fail condition.   
     
     
         7 . The cooling and noise-reduction apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the controller is further configured to close the vent during the vent fail condition. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling and noise-reduction apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the ducting element comprises a corrugated duct. 
     
     
         9 . A cooling and noise-reduction apparatus, comprising:
 a central air conditioning system;   a plurality of computing devices each including a heat generating component, an enclosure having first and second inlets, a fan configured to drive coolant from the first inlet to the heat generating component, a vent operably interposed between the second inlet and the heat generating component and a controller coupled to the fan and the vent to respectively control operations thereof; and   a plurality of ducting elements each being configured to flexibly and fluidly couple the respective second inlets of each of the plurality of computing devices with the central air conditioning system.   
     
     
         10 . The cooling and noise-reduction apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of computing devices comprises:
 one or more servers;   one or more desktop computing devices; and   one or more portable computing devices.   
     
     
         11 . The cooling and noise-reduction apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising one or more docking stations for the one or more portable computing devices. 
     
     
         12 . The cooling and noise-reduction apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the heat generating component comprises at least one of a mother board and a central processing unit. 
     
     
         13 . The cooling and noise-reduction apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein each controller of the plurality of computing devices comprises:
 a fan control unit operably coupled to the corresponding fan to control an on/off state and a rotational speed of the corresponding fan; and   a vent control logic unit operably coupled to the corresponding vent to control an opening, a closing and a vent angle of the corresponding vent.   
     
     
         14 . The cooling and noise-reduction apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein each controller of the plurality of computing devices is configured to:
 maintain the corresponding fan and the corresponding vent in on and open conditions, respectively, during a startup state,   maintain the corresponding fan and the corresponding vent in off and open conditions, respectively, during an active condition, and   maintain the corresponding fan in the on condition during a vent fail condition.   
     
     
         15 . The cooling and noise-reduction apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein each controller of the plurality of computing devices is further configured to close the vent during the vent fail condition. 
     
     
         16 . The cooling and noise-reduction apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of ducting elements comprises a corrugated duct. 
     
     
         17 . A cooling and noise-reduction method for use with a computing device disposable within a structure having a central air conditioning system, the computing device comprising:
 a heat generating component;   an enclosure having first and second inlets;   a fan configured to drive coolant from the first inlet to the heat generating component;   a vent operably interposed between the second inlet and the heat generating component; and   a controller coupled to the fan and the vent to respectively control operations thereof, the method comprising:   maintaining the fan and the vent in on and open conditions, respectively, during a startup state;   maintaining the fan and the vent in off and open conditions, respectively, during an active condition; and   maintaining the fan in the on condition during a vent fail condition.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising booting the computing device to initiate the startup state. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising docking the computing device with a dock to initiate the startup state. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising closing the vent during the vent fail condition.